ALT-2 Sexism in the Workplace
Sexism, racism and ageism are all fundamentally the same in that they are all types of discrimination that is unjust and harmful to those who suffer the consequences of people's small-minded attitudes. Though tremendous strides have been made in the area of sexism in the workplace, the problem has not been eradicated and continues to affect everyday, industrious people who seek equal opportunities in the secular arena. Sexism has traditionally been a female problem, and this has been evident as women were habitually overlooked for responsible positions in companies even though they were perfectly suitable for the job. That said, sexism is not solely a problem that affects women, perhaps due to a backlash from women now in power who have had to fight against what was a dominant male attitude.
The role of women in the workplace has changed dramatically in recent years, with talented and ambitious women commanding lofty corporate positions and many even dominating the boardroom. This has not brought an end to sexism in the workplace, as can be seen from the number of lawsuits directed at bosses who treat their female employees and co-workers with little respect. In some cases, women are still subjected to sexual harassment by morons who clearly believe it is their right as men to treat women with disrespect. Thankfully, some women have risen to the challenge and refused to accept the neanderthal approaches by the men in question. Sexism in the workplace takes many forms, and sexual harassment is merely one of the ways it is displayed.
Both men and women can be victims of a sexist attitude in their workplace as there are often places where women dominate and are preferred when it comes to offering promotions. This is a situation that women have had to endure for years as they were overlooked in favor of male co-workers whenever the opportunity arose to make advancement within the company. Now men are also beginning to feel the effects of this type of sexism where young, good-looking women are being chosen ahead of them in the promotion stakes. Ideally, promotion should be offered on the basis of a person's talent and ability to do the job and with consideration as to their qualifications for greater responsibility.
By and large, sexism remains a greater problem for women than for men and continues to be a blight within many corporations who insist on "jobs for the boys" as they ignore and overlook the talented women in their midst. Many corporations will deny sexism exists within their boardroom, but often the facts say otherwise. Even in small companies a sexist attitude can dominate as female employees are given the short straw and their male counterparts given the better deal in day-to-day work. When women become dominant in their own companies, the tendency could be to attempt to reverse the trend they have observed for years, resulting in their becoming sexist themselves.
Some men and women simply accept that sexism exists and get on with the work at hand, taking their salary home and refusing to let the situation become a major issue for them. The viewpoint that life is not always easy or fair allows them to treat their job of work as a means to an end and not as the most important thing in life. Sexism that excludes others from receiving promotion or that results in sexual harassment should be tackled by those who are victims. Allowing the situation to continue will leave them feeling miserable and will give the green light to those who cling to their archaic views. Sexism is a fact of life in the workplace, from the major corporation down to the small company. Whether or not it remains a major problem for the victim will depend greatly on the efforts they make to resolve the situation and the help they receive from official bodies to deal with it.
